Paul R. Hoffert v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2015 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), Aug 27 2015, 8:59 am
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Cara Schaefer Wieneke Gregory F. Zoeller
Special Asst. to State Public Defender Attorney General of Indiana
Wieneke Law Office, LLC
Karl M. Scharnberg
Plainfield, Indiana Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Paul R. Hoffert, August 27, 2015
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
84A05-1503-CR-102
v. Appeal from the Vigo Superior
Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable John T. Roach,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
84D01-1210-FC-3358
Pyle, Judge.
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Statement of the Case
[1] Appellant/Defendant, Paul R. Hoffert (“Hoffert”), appeals his sentence for his
convictions of two counts of Class C felony burglary.1 Hoffert pled guilty to
both counts in exchange for a combined sentencing cap of eight (8) years.
Subsequently, the trial court sentenced him to four (4) years for each
conviction, with two (2) years of each suspended to probation, and ordered the
sentences to run concurrently. On appeal, Hoffert now argues that the trial
court abused its discretion in sentencing him because it did not issue an
adequate sentencing statement. We agree that the trial court did not issue an
adequate sentencing statement, but we affirm because we conclude that
Hoffert’s sentence was not inappropriate under Appellate Rule 7(B).
[2] We affirm.
Issue
Whether the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing Hoffert
by failing to issue an adequate sentencing statement.2
Facts
[3] On October 19, 2012, the State charged Hoffert with two counts of Class C
felony burglary. On February 9, 2015, Hoffert pled guilty to both counts in
1
IND. CODE § 35-43-2-1. The burglary statute was amended effective July 1, 2014, and Hoffert’s offense
would now be considered a Level 5 felony. However, because he committed his offense in 2012, we will
consider the version of the statute in effect at that time.
2
Hoffert also preemptively argues that he did not waive his right to challenge his sentence by pleading guilty.
Because the State concedes that waiver does not apply, we need not address the issue.
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exchange for a combined sentencing cap of eight (8) years. At his plea hearing,
Hoffert admitted to breaking and entering into two storage units at You-Store-
It, a storage facility in Terre Haute, with the intent to commit thefts.
[4] That same day, the trial court held a sentencing hearing. At the hearing,
Hoffert testified that, since his offense, he had completed addictions counseling
and would be willing to complete any additional programs that the court might
order. He also stated that he had last been convicted of a felony in 1989 but
had been convicted of “some” misdemeanor charges since then. (Tr. 16). In
addition, he testified that when he was questioned as a suspect in the instant
case, he confessed to the police officers that he had taken the items. The State
told the trial court that one of Hoffert’s victims had contacted the State and
requested restitution in the amount of $29,000 for the items taken from his
storage unit. However, the State did not argue for any aggravating factors.
[5] At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court sentenced Hoffert to four (4)
years for each conviction, with two (2) years of each suspended to probation,
and ordered the sentences to run concurrently. In its oral sentencing statement,
the trial court stated:
You would be a candidate for Community Corrections except for
they don’t have anywhere to put you. The range of sentence that
you’re facing on these is two [(2)] to eight (8) years with an
advisory of four (4) [years]. I’m gonna give you a sentence of
four (4) years, and I’m gonna [sic] that two (2) years be executed
and that two (2) years be suspended to formal probation. I’m not
ordering restitution at this point[.] [U]h, I’m going to allow the
victim to contact the Probation Department. If he wants a
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hearing on restitution, he can ask [for] one through probation
and we will have a hearing. I’m not going to do it based on the
estimate that was turned in at the last minute. Uh, from what I
know of the case, I’m a bit incredulous about [$29,000] in a You-
Store-It facility, but he’ll just have to bring his evidence in. He
can always pursue you civilly as well, so, that’s the way I’ll leave
it on that. You’ve got sixteen (16) actual plus good time, so
you’ve got thirty-two days credit against the two (2) years. I’m
gonna recommend you for any alcohol and drug counseling that
the DOC has available to you. Okay. Based on the time served,
I’m going to waive fines, costs, and fees in this case and you’re
remanded to custody.
(Tr. 17-19).3 Hoffert now appeals his sentence.
Decision
[6] On appeal, Hoffert argues that the trial court erred in sentencing him because it
failed to issue an adequate sentencing statement explaining the reasons for its
sentence.
[7] Sentencing is within the trial court’s discretion. Ramos v. State, 869 N.E.2d
1262, 1263 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). Accordingly, we review a sentence for an
abuse of discretion. Id. Under Indiana’s current sentencing scheme, “‘[t]he trial
court must enter a statement including reasonably detailed reasons or
circumstances for imposing a particular sentence’” when sentencing a
defendant for a felony. Eiler v. State, 938 N.E.2d 1235, 1238 (Ind. Ct. App.
3
The trial court did not add any additional details or reasoning to support Hoffert’s sentence in its written
sentencing order.
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2010) (quoting Anglemyer v. State, 868 N.E.2d 482, 490 (Ind. 2007), clarified on
reh’g, 875 N.E.2d 218), reh’g denied. The purpose behind this requirement is to:
(1) guard against arbitrary and capricious sentencing and (2) provide an
adequate basis for appellate review. Moore v. State, 882 N.E.2d 788, 795 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2008). We will consider a sentencing statement adequate if it provides
a sufficient basis for appellate review of the sentence. See Anglemyer, 868
N.E.2d at 482.
[8] We agree with Hoffert that the trial court did not enter an adequate statement
because it did not include reasonably detailed reasons or circumstances for
imposing his sentence. See Eiler, 938 N.E.2d at 1238 (finding that the
sentencing statement was inadequate because the trial court did not explain
why it chose to sentence Eiler to the number of years to which it sentenced
him). While the trial court discussed its reasons for not imposing restitution or
placing Hoffert in Community Corrections, it did not identify its reason for
sentencing him to the advisory sentence. It is clear that the trial court
considered at least one of Hoffert’s proposed mitigating factors as the court
suspended two (2) years of Hoffert’s sentence to probation, but it is not clear
which factors it considered.
[9] However, where a trial court has erred in sentencing a defendant, we have
“‘several options[.]’” Id. at 1238 (quoting Windhorst v. State, 868 N.E.2d 504.
507 (Ind. 2007), reh’g denied). “‘Without a trial court sentencing order that
meets the requirements of the law,’ we have the option to remand to the trial
court for a clarification or new sentencing determination.” Id. at 1238-39
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(quoting Windhorst, N.E.2d at 507). We also may exercise our authority to
review and revise the sentence and address whether it is inappropriate under
Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B). See id. at 1239.
[10] Pursuant to Appellate Rule 7(B), a reviewing court may revise a sentence if,
“after due consideration of the trial court’s decision,” it finds that the sentence
is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the
offender. Childress v. State, 848 N.E.2d 1073, 1079-80 (Ind. 2006) (quoting App.
R. 7(B)). Although this Court is not required to use “great restraint,” we
nevertheless exercise deference to a trial court’s sentencing decision, both
because Appellate Rule 7(B) requires that we give “due consideration” to that
decision and because we recognize the unique perspective a trial court has when
making decisions. Stewart v. State, 866 N.E.2d 858, 865-66 (Ind. Ct. App.
2007). The “principal role of appellate review should be to attempt to leaven
the outliers and identify some guiding principles for trial courts and those
charged with improvement of the sentencing statutes, but not to achieve a
perceived ‘correct’ result in each case.” Cardwell v. State, 895 N.E.2d 1219, 1225
(Ind. 2008). In addition, the defendant bears the burden of persuading this
Court that his sentence is inappropriate. Childress, 848 N.E.2d at 1080.
[11] The sentencing range for a Class C felony conviction is between two (2) and
eight (8) years, with an advisory sentence of four (4) years. Here, Hoffert
received the advisory sentence for both convictions with two years suspended
and concurrent terms.
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[12] Although Hoffert raised several potential mitigating factors at his sentencing
hearing, we cannot conclude that his sentence was inappropriate. While he was
sentenced to the advisory sentence, his aggregate sentence for his two Class C
felony convictions was equivalent to the advisory sentence for one Class C
felony conviction. He also had two years suspended to probation, so his
aggregate executed sentence for two convictions was equivalent to the
minimum sentence for one Class C felony. In addition, Hoffert had a criminal
history that was evidence of his poor character and supports his sentence. See
Williams v. State, 891 N.E.2d 621, 633 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (stating that revision
of a sentence under Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B) requires the appellant to
demonstrate that his sentence is inappropriate in light of both the nature of his
offenses and his character). He had one felony conviction, also for burglary,
and numerous misdemeanor convictions. In light of these factors, we decline to
revise Hoffert’s sentence. Thus, we affirm the trial court’s sentence in spite of
the fact that the trial court did not adequately discuss its reasons for imposing
the sentence.
[13] Affirmed.
Vaidik, C.J., and Robb, J., concur.
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